Box.



F. E. THOMPSON.

BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, l9l5.

1 205,82 1 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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FnAnx E. rnoivrrson, OFEDMQNTON, ALBERTA, clin'nnn.

BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed September 8, 1915. Serial No. 49,540.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. T IOMPSON, a citizen of Great Britian, residing at Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved box structure, and it consists in the novel. features hereinaft r described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide in a box structure, means for supporting and retaining a false bottom therein, thereby providing below the false bottom a compartment in which articles may be concealed or secreted.

With the above object in view, the box includes a body provided at the inner sides of its ends with cleats, upon which a tray may rest in the body. A spring tongue i concealed behind one of the cleats and projects at it's free end portion below the lower edge thereof, and the other cleatis provided at its lower portion with a groove adapted to receive the end of a panel. The said panel, at its other end, may be inserted below the other cleat and encounter the spring, whereby the panel is held in the slot of the slotted cleat. A fulcrum bar is positioned upon the bottom of the box, and serves to support; that end of the panel adjacent the cleat which conceals the spring. Also the said bar may serve as a fulcrum upon which the panel may be swung or tilted as the same is removed from the box, or inserted therein.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box with parts removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an end portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of an end portion of a modified form of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of still another modified form of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of another modified form of the same. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another modified form of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of still another modified form of the same.

The box comprises a body 1 which is provided at the inner surfaces of its ends with cleats 2 and 3. The upper edges of the cleats 2 and 8 are spaced from the upper edge of the ends of the body 1, consequently the upper edges of the said cleats may be used as supports for a tray (not shown). The cleat 2 is provided in the vicinity of its lower edge with a groove 4, andthe lower edge of the cleat 3 is spaced above the bottom of the body 1. The cleat 3 is provided at its back, or that side which is against the end of the body 1, with a recess 5, and a flat spring 6 is secured to the said cleat 3 and lies in the said recess. The lower portion of the spring 6 projects below the lower edge of the cleat 3, and the said spring is under tension with a tendency to normally have its lower'end disposed toward the central portion of the body 1. A bar 7 is positioned upon the bottom of the body 1,'in the vicinity of the cleat 3, but spaced therefrom, and the upper surface of the bar is of the same level as the lower wall of the groove 14in the cle t 411 1 8 s a apted to fit snugly between the front and rear walls of the body 1 and the groove 4 is adapted to receive one end of the panel 8, while the other end of the said panel may lie under the lower edge of the cleat 3. The end portion of the panel. 8 adjacent the cleat 3 rests upon the upper surface of the bar 7 when the said panel is in position in the body 1. When the panel is in position in the body thereis space provided between the bar 7 and the front and rear sides and one end of the box, which forms a compartment in which articles may be concealed or secreted.

Assuming that the panel 8 is in position in the body 1, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and it is desired to remove the same, pressure is exerted upon the panel 8 to first move the same longitudinally against the tension of the spring 6,whereby the lower portion of the spring isforced against the adjacent end of the body 1, and the edge of the panel 8 is moved out of the groove 4. The panel 8 is then tilted upon the bar 7 as a fulcrum, whereby that edge which has previously been seated in the groove 4 is swung in an upward direction, and the other edge is swung down below the lower end of the spring 6. Thus the panel 8 is disengaged from the groove 4 and may be readily removed from the body 1. When it is desired to place the panel 8 in position in the lower portion of the body 1, an edge of the panel is inserted between the bar 7 and the lower end of the spring 6, and then the panel is moved in a downward direction so that its other edge passes along the inner surface of the cleat 2. When the last mentioned edge of the panel 8 comes into regis- V ter with the groove 4, the tension of the spring 6 comes into play and depresses the said edge of the panel into the groove, whereby the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In the modified form as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the groove 4: is formed in the end wall of the box. In the modified form as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the inner surface of the cleat 3 is flush with the inner surface or edge of the end wall of. the box to which it is appli d. In the form as shown in Fig. 5v the spring (3 is attached to the inner side of the cleat 3.

From the above description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that a box of simple structure is provided and that in conjunction with the box, a detachable panel is provided, the said panel constituting, when in place in the box,

the upper wall of a chamber in the lower portion of the box, or afalse bottom, and 7 hence small articles may be concealed or secreted in the lower portion of the box.

Having described the invention what is claimed is V 1. irbox comprising a body, a cleat located at one end thereof, there being a groove provided at the other end of the body, a spring mounted at the cleat and conthe cleats havin a move, a sarin 'con- 23 b I b.

cealed behind the other cleat and having a free end portion disposed toward the grooved cleat and a panel adapted to fit between the walls of the cox and having an edge portion adapted to enter the groove of the grooved cleat the said spring adapted to bear against the opposite edge of the'said panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

. FRANK E. THOMPSON.

' \Vitnesses:

GEOJS. MONTGOMERY, GEO. ,S. MONTGOMERY, J r.

\ Copies of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. k 

